REBECCA GIBSON'S approach to tourism is not a typical bus tour day out, where you tick off as many "must-see" destinations as possible - probably ending the day weary, but with a camera full of hastily-snapped pictures.
She says, "It's not about rushing around and seeing everything in one go - it's about going to a single place and immersing yourself in it. Only then can you truly experience somewhere." The outlook of the outdoor writer and photographer, who lives in Burghead, Moray, is to take it easy and really get to know a place, maybe off the beaten track or at least at a time when visitor numbers are very low - or, even better, at zero.
The concept is known as Slow Travel and is definitely a growing trend - one she applied when writing a guidebook covering "special places" to visit in north-east Scotland.
Rebecca started her travels for the book in September 2021, with a remit of uncovering "hidden gems" in Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Cairngorms National Park.
But where to start? She says, "The whole point of Slow Travel is that it's not always the top sites."
As with all of her work, she had a desire to make her book accessible for everyone, saying, "My background is in wildlife and that stereotypically appeals mostly to men and older people - I do like bucking the trend in that way.
"I believe that if I can inspire a young girl to get muddy and sit in the freezing cold photographing hares at 4am, I've done my job right."
There was also a need for food. "Local food is a great way to get to know an area and I firmly advocate the idea of shopping small - avoiding supermarket chains and finding produce made in the area, often using traditional techniques and family recipes," Rebecca says.
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Bliss Of A Bothy
After a strenuous walk, a mountain shelter can offer all you need
The Long Way Round
When you can only just see the stepping stones under a river in spate, it's time to re-think the route, as two Highland adventurers found out
The New Oyster Cult
A community is helping to restore the once rich biodiversity of Loch Craignish, one species at a time
A Poet's Sanctuary
Hidden on a hilltop, writer Dominic Cooper is inspired by the wild, stormy winters of the Ardnamurchan peninsula
A Rural Housing Crisis
Across Scotland, locals are being priced out and crowded out - but communities are now working hard to address the issue
A Historic Centre
Glasgow's Mercat Cross may not be as old as it appears but it's still seen many changes, along with an ebb and flow in prosperity
A Bird With A Brain
Jim's encounters with the raven in several northern countries have only increased his respect for its intellect and ingenuity
The Warrior King
On the 750th anniversary of his birth, Robert The Bruce's legacy as cultural keystone and historical enigma continues to fascinate
All Going Swimmingly
From Tutti Frutti to Shetland, Monarch Of The Glen to Granite Harbour, Dawn Steele's heart will always be in Scotland - and the sea
Following The Coos
The latest charity art trail aims to a-moos-e and delight visitors to Perth and Kinross this summer